Life gives us opportunities to invest in others  what are sometimes called “teachable moments.” It’s an unannounced event that can become a positive learning experience from one person to another.

It happens often between a parent and child, or a teacher and student. In either case, one is benefited from the wisdom or knowledge of another.

It’s important that we look for those opportunities. They not only give us a chance to practice being sensitive to the Spirit, but also a chance to invest in the life of another.

In the book of Acts, Philip found himself walking into a “God appointment.” It tells us in Chapter 8, verse 26 of Acts: “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert.’”

Sometimes the Spirit will ask us to do something that seems to make little sense to us, but listening to His call to us puts aside our own intellect to pursue His will. Philip had no idea what lay ahead of him, but he trusted God to provide more instruction as the situation presented itself. In a wonderful string of events, God used Philip to bring a soul into the Kingdom.

In a different passage, the priest Eli had trouble discerning the voice of the Lord to a young Samuel. Three times Samuel came to him before he sensed the Lord calling him. Seldom do we get that many opportunities to follow the Lord’s leading to be used in a “God appointment.”

In both situations, however, we see God being interested in our lives  using us as tools to bring others to Him. During the time we are on this earth, we will have many chances to allow God to use us if we are sensitive to His voice. It becomes starkly apparent that we need to be prepared for these times. Maybe you are serving the Lord today because someone was sensitive to listen to the Lord for just that kind of moment for you.

Take some time before each day begins to commit all that you do that day to the Lord. By asking God to use you, you leave opportunity for Him to bring people into your life for His purposes. Also ask that He would allow you to be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit when those times come  that the purposes of God may be fulfilled in you.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 (NKJV)